All the discussion about funding for political parties has been based around Westminster and elections. As usual the ‘poor bloody infantry' of councillors has been ignored. Councillors and councils are the most visible part of our democracy. They control vast budgets and council leaders and cabinet members in big authorities have infinitely more power and ability to change things than the majority of MPs.

Yet we spend next-to-nothing on councillors to ensure that they do their job properly. This is not a request for more money for councillors' allowances. It's a request for councillors to get assistance so they can undertake their important jobs properly. As I go into council after council, I see members wearing hair shirts and denying themselves the resources they need to undertake their work properly.